Frequently Asked Questions About the Department of Psychiatry

Adult Psychiatry FAQ

Q: Is the Department of Psychiatry currently accepting new patients?

A: The Department of Psychiatry on Mass General's main campus is currently accepting patients who have their primary care physicians at:

• Mass General Back Bay
• Mass General Beacon Hill
• Bulfinch Medical Group
• Mass General Downtown
• Mass General Everett
• Internal Medicine Associates
• Mass General Medical Group
• Mass General Waltham

OR if you have a longstanding treatment plan with one of the Mass General main campus specialists.

If your Primary Care Physician is located at one of the health centers (Charlestown, Chelsea or Revere), please contact your primary care physician to place a referral to that specific mental health program.

Q: What is the current wait time for an appointment?

A: The wait time for an appointment will depend on the provider and specialty. Please call the Psychiatry Access Line (617-724-5600)  for further information.

Q: How can a patient schedule an appointment for a women’s mental health consultation?

A: Call the Center for Women’s Mental Health at 617-724-7792. A Mass General primary care physician is not required; however you must have an outside provider that is able to prescribe medication ongoing.

Q: What insurances does the Department of Psychiatry accept?

We accept most insurances common in eastern Massachusetts. Please contact your insurance company with any insurance-specific concerns.

See insurance plans we do not accept.

• BMC Healthnet
• Celticare
• Cigna
• Commonwealth Care Alliance
• Fallon
• Health New England
• Minuteman
• Network Health (Tufts/Network Health merge products)
• NY Oxford
• Evercare
• Tricare South

Q: What are the department’s hours?

A: The psychiatry department is open during normal business hours and offers some limited evening appointments during the week. We are closed on national/state holidays and weekends.

Q: What services are offered for substance use?

A: The Psychiatry Department offers two dual-diagnosis programs for substance use and mental health: the Addiction Recovery Management Service (ARMS) for patients ages 15 to 26 and the West End Clinic for patients 26+. To schedule a first-time appointment for ARMS, call 617-643-4699. To schedule a first-time orientation with the West End Clinic, call 617-724-2480.

For any further questions, see clinical care information and check your eligibility.

Q: What about a treatment plan?

A: The psychiatrist or psychologist who evaluates you typically makes a diagnosis after the first or second visit. As a next step, they will work with you to develop a treatment plan to address your goals and concerns. Our long-term goal is to help our patients achieve and maintain good mental health, and to function at the highest possible level in their lives.

Q: Where do I go for treatment?

A: Our mental health services are housed at multiple locations within Boston and the surrounding area. The Adult Outpatient Services comprise the clinical services centered around Wang 8 including the Primary Care Psychiatry group receiving referrals from Mass General PCPs directly or through the Urgent Care Clinic. Some of our subspecialty services also see patients on Wang 8, while others treat patients in other locations. Depending on the nature of your appointment, you will be informed where your treater works. Pediatric patients receive care both at Mass General Psychiatry's Pediatric services and Mass General Hospital for Children.

Child Psychiatry Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What should we expect at our first visit?

A: For pediatric patients, at the initial visit, you and your child will meet with a child psychiatrist, child clinical psychologist, child psychiatrist resident or child clinical psychology intern. Depending on the type of evaluation, you instead might meet with a senior staff psychiatrist and third- or fourth-year adult psychiatry resident.

If your child is experiencing particularly complex problems, he or she might benefit from a larger team evaluation. In such cases, a senior staff psychiatrist or psychologist will perform the evaluation while being observed by a group of residents or interns.

Q: Are you currently accepting new patients?

A: The department is currently accepting patients with a Mass General pediatrician or a Mass General Brigham-affiliated pediatrician.

Q: Does the department conduct neuropsychological testing?

A: The child psychiatry department has the Learning and Emotional Assessment Program that conducts neuropsychological testing/educational testing. To schedule an appointment, call 617-643-6010.

Q: What insurances does the Department of Psychiatry accept?

We accept most insurances common in eastern Massachusetts. Please contact your insurance company with any insurance-specific concerns. Unfortunately, we do not accept the insurances listed below:

See insurance plans we do not accept.

• BMC Healthnet
• Celticare
• Cigna
• Commonwealth Care Alliance
• Fallon
• Health New England
• Minuteman
• Network Health (Tufts/Network Health merge products)
• NY Oxford
• Evercare
• Tricare South

Q: What are the department’s hours?

A: The Division of Child Psychiatry is open during normal business hours. We are closed on national/state holidays and weekends.

For any further questions, feel free to speak to the child psychiatry intake coordinator by calling 617-726-2725.